Transfer Rumours and Promising Youngsters

There are some current examples I could name that Everton have snapped up in what must be an extremely competitive marketplace.

There's Justin Clarke, who we just scouted from AFC Wimbledon and he is scoring goals for Everton U18s like nobody's business.

At the next level is Omari Benjamin, who we took from Arsenal's academy, and he has been doing okay for Everton U21s.

A less visible one is Francis Gomez, who we picked up from Nigeria and immediately dispatched on loan to Lyon.

Of course there are loads more out there... but the attrition rate for young players is massive. They have to be outstanding to make it to the Premier League. I think I've seen Robert Tressell write on his topic...

So many will be kicked out of a game or bullied verbally out of it. Some will be living away from home which means homesickness is a problem as is boredom after training which can lead young men astray.

Youth is definitely the way forward but supported by a good presence of old pros like Tarkowski who can look after the youngsters a bit. We have a few at the moment who might graduate but it's a lottery.

Well, he's not alone there. Calvert-Lewin is one of those players who is better when not playing. "Oh, we need Calvert-Lewin back from injury."

What's his best return for a season? Get him off the wage bill and moved on.

Tell us more about the deal that brought us Francis Gomez from Nigeria? Also his position and how he is doing at Lyon if you can please. I have never heard anything about the lad or the deal.

Thanks in advance.

Michael, I know you and Dave keep a close eye on the youngsters, and you have just mentioned a couple of boys we have recently signed and are doing well. I wonder is Baines having a say in recruitment as obviously he sees these lads when they play us?

We acquired him in August for €250k from a Nigerian club called Sporting Supreme FC.

Dave, there's a little bit more on Gomez here:

Everton's Rising Star Francis Gomez Secures Loan Move To Lyon For 2024-25 Season

There's one line I like in here: Gomez, described as “one of the most highly-rated talents from mainland Gambia”.

Having worked there for 6 months back in the day and travelled the length and breadth of this tiny African country, which is almost completely mainland, I think we should definitely start scouting seriously for some of these highly-rated talents from the handful of small and sparsely inhabited islands that exist at a few locations along the mighty River Gambia.

A proportion of young English talent moving abroad have done so because it gives them access to games at clubs which are challenging for trophies and playing excellent football under excellent coaches. It is also a brilliant life experience.

More generally, the high quality youngsters at other academies will all be well known to our scouts etc – not least because we play against them, but also because the best are generally playing youth internationals from age 15.

Man City, for example, have an academy which is stocked full of players of absolutely outstanding credentials at every age group. Some are homegrown, many are bought in (like Lienou and Lawrence who they pinched off us).

Players in their current youth set-up who would definitely be in our first team squad include the following (and you could make a case for a few more too):

Wilson-Esbrand (LB) - bought from West Ham

Doyle (CB) on loan at Norwich

Ndala (LW) on loan at PSV - bought from Port Vale

Alleyne (CB) bought from Saints

Wright (CDM)

O'Reilly (CM)

Alfa-Ruprecht (RW) bought from Hamburg

Lawrence (LW) bought from Everton

The trouble is, it's really hard to see which of these would make it at City because their path to the first team is blocked by a squad full of excellent players. Youngsters like Madueke and Bynoe-Gittens obviously had the same dilemma at Spurs and Man City respectively, and chose PSV and Dortmund respectively and it served them extremely well.

We offer another route to players like this. But we need to work harder at becoming known as a club that invests in youth development, before we're an attractive option.

I mean what chance do such players have of getting a game with him around? No chance is the answer. Once he has left the building and there is someone in charge with a different outlook possibly but not before I'm afraid. Until then, speculate all you wish but it won't happen.

That is just another reason why things must change immediately we have new owners in place.

We need Dyche gone but that will not happen, but we need a goal scorer, be it Chermiti or Broja, but Calvert-Lewin and Beto are not what we need and should be unloaded soonest.

I do like Beto for his industry and effort but he will never give you the 10 to 15 goals minimum you need from your striker, and Calvert-Lewin has failed for numerous seasons to push on.

Keep our money for the new season, get the sick strikers up to fitness, and let Calvert-Lewin go; I can't see big clubs queuing up for his services on a better contract.

As I said in an earlier post I had never heard of the lad or the deal, will try and keep my eye open for his progress.

Perhaps a Red Alert and horrible blurting noise? That should get your attention.

And to the point — you didn't remind me the U18s had a game on Thursday!

I've only ever had a landline phone but I don't carry it around with me, never had a mobile phone!

Hang on there, Michael, I sent you a report about the game at Sunderland with the score and scorers it was on the Liverpool U18 v Everton U18 thread which also told you the U21's had a game on Friday. Check it out I could be resigning as your roving reporter over this!